Page 50 of The Vanishing Place
Effie frowned and took another Pineapple Lump. “What will the police do with him?”
“Dunno.” Lewis shrugged. “Apparently he’s not from here. Griffiths, the police fellah, said he’s from up near Hokitika. Not right in the head, I reckon.”
“Who do you think he was talking about?” asked Effie. “About that girl.”
“I think he was talking shit.”
“But…” Something twisted in Effie’s stomach.The otherwise thing. “The last time we were in Koraha…” She paused, worried that the dark bits in her dad might make Lewis like her less. “Last time, you said that thing about my dad. That he hurt that hiker…”
“It was just a rumor. Stupid local gossip.”
She looked at him, confused. “You said—”
“I was wrong, Effie. People make up stuff all the time round here.” His voice was odd, like he was trying out adult words. “Especially about your dad, and your family. But no one knows what they’re talking about.”
The thing in her stomach stirred. “But,” she continued, “my dad, he gets angry sometimes, violent. Like with that man.”
“You mean with the man who grabbed you and broke two of my ribs?”
“Yeah, but—”
“Parents do crazy shit when their kids are in trouble. My stepdad once slashed some guy’s tires cos his car clipped my bike.” Lewis shook his head. “Bloody nice ute too.”
“So,” said Effie, “you don’t think that man was talking about my dad?”
“I think that man was a nutcase.”
Her body eased, the blackest parts of her a little lighter. Like maybe she’d been worrying about nothing.
“And hey.” Lewis smiled. “School’s going to be a breeze after this. We’re local heroes now.”
Effie smiled back.
“Reckon you’ll get the full royal treatment tomorrow,” he said. “The kick-arse kids of Koraha. Catchy, don’t you think?”
“I think you’re an idiot.” She rolled her eyes and took the bag of candy.
2025
The girl, barefootand shivering, walked forward with her arm still outstretched and stopped in front of Effie.
Without a word, Effie removed her jacket and bent down to place it over Anya’s shoulders, the raincoat drowning her. The child stood completely still as Effie fastened the top button, staring at her with such intensity that Effie had to force herself not to look away. Then Anya slipped her cold fingers into Effie’s, and hand in hand, they walked back across the bridge. Effie knew she was squeezing the child’s hand too tight, but she couldn’t help it. If she loosened her grip, Effie was afraid she might lose her.
They had only made it ten meters when the lights of a vehicle filled the single-lane bridge. Anya didn’t run, but Effie felt her flinch.
The ute stopped a few meters in front of them, and June got out. Effie raised her hand, preventing June from coming any closer, then she turned to Anya. Effie touched her fingers to her mouth and pointed back at the ute.I need to talk to June. Anya’s expression didn’t change, but she pulled her hand free and covered her ears.
“You okay?” asked June.
Effie nodded as she walked forward. “She wants to go back.”
“I know.” June sighed and a sad smile pulled at the corners of her mouth. “She reminds me of Tia. Your sister was never happy in Koraha. Tia was born of bush and wildness, just like Anya.”
“But not me?”
“No.” Something unsaid hung in the creases of June’s face, but she blinked it away. “You were always meant to leave.”
Effie’s shoulders softened slightly, releasing a tension she hadn’t known was there. Like maybe Tia had needed to stay. Maybe Effie hadn’t failed her—hadn’t left her sister to die in the bush.
